podcast

​A KILLING ON THE CAPE

It was a crime that rocked an idyllic seaside town in Cape Cod -- the 2002 murder of Christa Worthington, who was found stabbed to death with her 2-year-old daughter, unharmed at her side. What came next was a three-year search for her killer that would involve unorthodox steps by police, a lengthy list of potential suspects, and an entire town under suspicion. Christa's trash collector, Christopher McCowen, would eventually be convicted of the crime, but his trial would raise questions about the evidence, investigative methods, and whether racial prejudice played a role. ABC Radio’s Mark Remillard and "20/20" take a look at all the evidence and for the first time ever, hear directly from Christopher McCowen, to examine whether the right man is behind bars.

Listen to the trailer:

Episode 1: The Murder

On January 6th, 2002 fashion writer and single-mother Christa Worthington was found stabbed to death in her home in a small town on Cape Cod – her 2-year-old daughter, Ava, was unharmed at her side. We start with a look at the crime that would tip off the most high-profile investigation in Cape Cod’s history.

Episode 2: The Shellfish Constable

Police begin their search for the person who killed 46-year-old fashion writer and single mother, Christa Worthington in 2002. To understand where they would look first, we learn about Christa and her fast-paced career as a writer, as well as her affair with a married man that would put him in the investigation's crosshairs.

Episode 3: More Leads; More Dead Ends

Police expand their search for Christa Worthington's killer, looking at an ex-boyfriend and even Christa's own father. But a match on a crucial piece of D.N.A. evidence continued to be elusive, forcing police to take an unorthodox approach to find the killer and one that would grab national headlines.

Episode 4: The Garbage Man

Three years into their investigation, police arrest Christopher McCowen for the murder of Christa Worthington, but the arrest of a black man in the murder of a wealthy white woman would immediately ignite controversy.

Episode 5: The Verdict

The prosecution lays out its case against Christopher McCowen for the rape and murder of Christa Worthington, while his defense looks to poke holes in that case and raise doubts in the minds of jurors. The high-profile trial took weeks and left some wondering still to this day whether it was fair.

Episode 6: The Interview

More than 10 years after Christopher McCowen's conviction for the rape and murder of Christa Worthington, his defense continues its efforts to get him a new trial. And for the first time, we hear directly from Chris McCowen to get his side of the story.